Machine for bending pipes



hmmm J. H. TAYLOR MACHINE FOR BENDING PIPES Filed Sent. 2'7. 1923 E Wm'eetswee 1 .l. H. TAYLOR MACHINE FOR BENDING PIPES Filed Sept, 27. 1923 2 www 2 l i 1l/1,0,- I Z6. f5 53 8 53 es Patented Nov., l, T924.

vrienr JAMES HALL TAYLOR, F OAK PARK, ILLINOIS.

MACHINE FOR BENDING PIPES.

Application filed. September To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES HALL TAYLOR, a citizen ol the United States, and a residentof Oak Park, in the county of @ook and State of Tllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Bending Pipes, of which the following ris a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to machines for bending pipes and its object is to provide 'an improvement whereby the pipes may be,

4when desired, bent on a radius greater than ".theoperativelength of the radius-bar or -.swinging bending member.

In practice, lwhen bending pipes on a long radius, there is in many instances lack of overhead room for a radius-bar of `the necessary length and only a limited `bar whilel it isbending the pipe, so that the curvature of the pipe will be the result ot "the radius of the bar plus its elongation, 3@

or upon a radius greater than the length ofthe bar. This makes it possible to install and use a machine for bending pipes on'long radii in places where unusual overhead space is not available, and also greatly increases the possible range of variation in the radii of the bends. This Jfeature also makes possible a compact machine for bends on long radii.

The invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

`ln thedrawings: Figure l is a side @elevation of a machine embodying the in- 've1ition. FigJ2 is a section on line 2-2 voiiFig. l. Fig. 3 Lis a section on line 3-3 y.Cn-lFig- 2. Fig. 4 is a. front elevation of the `machine embodying the invention.

Figa 5;."is` a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4. fF-igf Gis a" plan of the driving mechanism "for" the radius-b ar.

Figs. 7 and 8 are details on a large scale of the automatic -f switchfor themotor-which drives the gearfingfor varying the length of the radius abar.

'The invention is exemplified in a ma- Serial No. 665,100.

chine comprising a frame-work composed of a pair of standards 8 secured together through cross-beams 9, longitudinal beams l0 and brace-members 1l tor securing `the standards in upright position. The pipe A. to be bent has its rear end supported'on atruck 13 which is adapted to run on rails 14 and to push the pipe to the bending mechanism. This truck is usually operated hydraulically by the piston l5 in a cylinder 16, and a `flexible connection 17 between the truck and theV stem of thejpiston. A suitably grooved roller 18, which adjustably supported between standardslS, serves as an abutment or anvil for holding the pipe and resisting the bending strains: produced by the mechanism Vhereinafter described. L suitable lower roll 19 serves to support the pipe when its free end is not supported by the bending mechanism. A. suitable heater, such as a gas-burner 20, is used to heat the pipe adjacent the anvilroller 18. The parts thus far described may be of any suitable construction as well understood in the art.

A depending radius bar or memberis provided to bend the pipe as it is slowly fed past the pine beyond the anvil. In the eXemplication of t-he invention shown. this bar comprises a pair of links 2l, and a screw 22. The lower ends of said links are pivoted to studs 24 of a clamp 23 which is 'formed of semi-circular sections so it can be appli-ed to and removed from the pipe and is provided with bolts 25 for clamping the sections securely on the pipe. The upper ends of these links are connected to studs 2G on a collar 27 which is iixedly secured to the lower end of screw 22 between a shoulder 28 and a nut 29. Screw 22 is threaded to a rotatable sleevenut 30 which is journalled in a vertical bearing` 31 which is formed in a carriage 32.. Sleeve 30 is held against longitudinal movement in the carriage by a lange'Oa adjacent its upper end and a ycollar 30b may, if desired. be secured to its lower end. The carriage 32 isprovided with pintles 33 at its end which are held inbearingblocks 34 which are vertically adjustable on and secured to standards 8` by bolts "35 and holes 36. Channel-bars 37 depend from carriage 32' and lugs k38'on"ciollar 27 extend into said bars to hold the', ycollar and screw 22 against rot-ation while'perinittingV longitudinal adjustment of Jthe EEO screw. The rotation of sleeve 3() in one direction forces the screw 22 downwardly to elongate the radius-bar and its reverse rotation will raise the screw to shorten the bar.

Carriage 32 supports reducing gearing for operating sleeve 30 to longitudinally adjust the screw 22 of the radius-bar and an electric motor 39 for driving' the gearing. The latter comprises a pinion 40 on the motor shaft; a gear 4l meshing with said pinion and Xed to a cross-shaft 42 vwhich is mounted in bearings 43 on the carriagea pinion 44 iiXed to shaft 42; a

gear 45 meshing with pinion 44 and lined to a shaft. 46 which is journalled in bearings 47er the carriage; a` bevelled pinion 48 fixed to shaft 46 and meshing with a gear `49 which is mounted on a. vertical stud-shaft 50 and fXed to drive a gear 51; and a gear 52 which is bolted to flange 80a so that sleeve 30 will be rotated thereby. Motor 39 is; of the reversible 'type so that it may be controlled to drive the reducing gearing and sleeve 30 in either direction and so that the screw 22 after it has been shifted to lengthen the radiusbar yduring a bending operation, may be raised to shorten the bar for the commencement of the next operation. The carriage is pivotally supported to permit the radius-bar and the reducing gearing to swing as a unit during the bending operations.

Mechanism to automatically control the adjustment of the radius-bar so the curvature of the pipe will be upon the desired radius, comprises an electro-magnetically controlled switch 54 of' the solenoid type, which is mounted on one of the standards 8 and isv connected to control motor 39, and may be of any suitable or kusual construction; a switch comprising contact-members y55 and 56 on spring strips 57 and 58 respectively; and flexible conductors 59 between said contacts and the electromagnet of yswitch 54 and whereby the operation of lthe magnet to control the motor-switch,

will be controlled through the opening and closing of contacts 55 and 56. Strips 57 and 58 are secured to a bracket 60 which is adjustably secured by a screw 6l, to one of the links 2l to cause the contacts 55 and 56 tojswing with the radius-bar. A. shoe 62 is fixed to the end of contact-strip 57 to ride or slide onv a template or controllerbar 63, which is adjustably supported at one side of pipe A, and has its upper edge 63a on which the shoe rides, curved cony ormably to the curvature or radius of the bend desired on the pipe. These templates may, if desired, be formed of wood so they can be readily cut with an edge of any desired curvatureand so they can be produced at a 10W cost. Adjustable supporting-posts 65 are provided tor the template so it can be set into correct relation with respect to pipes ot dillerent diameters. The shoe 62 when it bears on the curved edge 63 of the template, will separate contacts 55, 56 and open the circuit through conductors 5S? to cause the magnetic switch 54 to keep thc motor circuit open so the motor and reducinfer-gearing will be idle until the shoe leaves the template, and when that occurs, contacts 55, 56 will spring into engagement and close the circuit for switch 54 to cause the latter to close the motor circuit and cause it to run until said contacts are again separated by the elongation ol the radiusl ir which will torce shoe 62 against edge "3 ot the template.

The operation of the machine will be as followszhrlhe rear end oit pipe A to be bent is placed on truck 18 and its other end in the heater 2() and between rollers 18, i9. The `front end of the pipe is lined in clamp 2li so it will be secured to and be bent by the radius-bar as the latter swings forwardly by its connection with the pipe. The truck is slowly advanced by hydraulic power applied to piston vl5 which will cause the rmlius-bar to swing -forwardly about pintles 83. with the carriage 32 and mechanism thereon. lhen a template with an edge 63 of greater radius than that o f the swinging bending-bar is secured in proper position at one side ot the pipe, the shoe 62 will automatically control the opera.- iion oi' the motor 39 through contacts 56, and switch 54 so that whenever the sho(` leaves the template the motor will bc operated to elongate the radius-bar until the shoe again engages the template, the motor eltecting this elongation through the reducing-gearing between the motor and sleevenut 30. This operation will cause the pipe to be bent on a radius or with a curvature corresponding` to the template curve which is of a greater radius than the bar. That is, the radius of the curve is the resultant of compounding the pivotal movement and the elongation of the radius-bar. llVhen the pipe has been bent, the motor can be rc versed to drive the gearing to retract screw 22 or shorten the radius-bar in readiness tor a succeeding operation. lf the bend is to be npon a short radius corresponding to the length of the bar, the template may be omitted and the screw adjusting mechanism will be kept idle. To adapt the machin(` for varying set-lengths of the radius-bar or for different bars, the carriage bearingblocks 34 can be raised or lowered on the standards 8.

The invention exemplilies a bending machine, which is adapted to automatically vary the operative length ot the swinging bending-member or radius-bar so that the are or curvature of the bend will be on a greater or less radius than that-ofthe bar; in which power-operated..mechanism is providedii'or varying the 'length of the radiusbar; in which the `curvature of the bend is controlled by templatesA which can be cheaply produced; which is adapted to form bends on long radii in installations where.

space for long radius-bars is not available; and which is adapted for a wide range of variations oit curvatures.

The invention is not to be understood as 'the pipe, an extensible swinging bendingmeniber, and means for automatically extending the operative length of said member while the pipe is being moved.

v3. In a machine for bendingv pipe, they combination of a frame, means for moving the pipe, an extensible swinging' bendingmeinber, and power-operated means for automatically varying the operative length of said member. j

4. In a machine for bendingv pipe, the combination ofaframe, means .tor moving the pipe, an extensible swinging bendinginember, mechanism for adjusting the operative length of said member mounted to swing with the member, and means to automatically control said mechanism comprising a stationary template.

5. In a machine for bending pipe, the combination of a frame, means for moving the pipe, an extensible swinging bendingmember, power-operated mechanism for varying the length of said bending member, and means for automatically controlling the operating` of said mechanism.

6. In a machine for bending pipe. the combination of a frame, inea-ns for moving the pipe, an extensible swinging bendingmember, an electric motor and gearing for varying the length of said bending member,

and means forautoniatically controlling the operating of said gearing..

H7. In a machine for bending pipe, the combination of aframe, means for moving the pipe, an extensible swinging bendingmember, a motor and gearing for varying the length of and mounted to swing with said bending member, and means for automatically controlling the operating of said mechanism.

8. In a machine for bending pipe, the combination of a frame, means for moving .the .1. pipe, an:` :extensible swinging bending- .i and nieans` .t'or automatically controlling .the

operating of .said gearing comprising -a switch. connectedV to control the enotor and a stationary :curved controlling Vmembeif-gfor the switch.

9. In 'a .machine i'orcbending pipe, the Iconfibination of a iframe, means for'imoving theI pipe, la swinging member comprising a screw and. a link, mechanism'. for adjusting lthe screw' .longitudinally to vary theoperative length o'ithe member, and meansxfor 4automatically controlling said mechanism.

10. In a machinefoi-@bending pipe, the combination ot' a frame, means-for moving the-pipe, a swinging member comprising a screw and a link,.1mechanismatomadjusting the screw longitudinally to vary-.theA opera- `tive length Lof the. member, comprisingsan electric motor, and meansv for.' automatically controllingsaid motor.

A11. In a machine .for bending .-pipe,ithe

combination of l a frame, .meanst-orxmoving the pipe,.-a swinging member comprising a screw and a link, mechanism fonadjusting the screw longitudinallyA tovary theaoperative length of the member and-mounted to swing Lwith thescrew. and means-L ifoivautomati-cally controlling said mechanism.

12in a machinefor bending pipe,'the combination Aof i a i frame, means `for .moving the pipe, a swinging member comprising a screwand a link, mechanism`l` 'foradjusting the screw-longitudinally `tovary the i operative length of the member comprising a nut around the screw, a motor, and' reducinggearing between the motor and the nut, and means for automatically controlling said mechanism.

13. In a machine for bending pipe, the combination of a frame, means for moving the pipe, an extensible swinging bendingmember, and power operating mechanism for adjusting the operative length of said member.

14. In a machine for bending pipe, the combination of a frame, means for moving the pipe, an extensible swinging bendingmember, and power-operating mechanism for adjusting the operative length of said member comprising an electric motor and reducing-gearing driven by the motor.

15. In a machine for bending pipe, the combination of a frame, means for moving the pipe, an extensible |swinging bendingmember, and power-operated mechanisnr for adjusting the operative length of said member mounted to swing with the member.

16. In a machine for bending pipe, the combination of a Jframe, means for moving the pipe, an extensible swinging bending-member comprising a screw, and poweroperated mecharsm for adjusting the screw.

l UU

17. Ink a machine for bending pipe, the combination of a frame, means for moving the pipe, an eXtensible swinging bendingmember comprising a carriage, a motor mounted on the carriage, and reducinggearing connected to vary the operative *length of the member, mounted on the cariii riage and driven by said motor.

18. In a machine for bending pipe, the combination of a frame, means for moving the pipe, an eXtensible swinging bendingmember comprising a carriage, a motor mounted on the carriage, reducing-gearing connected to vary the operative length of the member Aby said motor, and means to control the gearing comprising a switch carried by said member and a stationary template.

20. In a machine for bending pipe, the

' combination of a frame, means for moving vthe pipe, a radius bar comprising a screw and-a link, a clamp on the link for connectionyto the pipe, a carriage, a sleeve-nut in the carriage and for adjustin the screw, and an electric motor mounte on the carriage and connected to rotate said sleeve.

21. In a machine for bending pipe, the

combination of a frame, means for moving the pipe, a radius bar comprising a screw and a link, a clamp on the link for connection to the pipe, a carriage pivoted to the frame and swinging with the bar, a sleeve-nut rotatable in the carriage and 'for adjusting the screw, and an electric motor mounted on the carriage and connected to rotate said sleeve.

22. In a machine for bending pipe, thel combination of a frame, means for moving the pipe, a swinging bending-member, :i radius bar comprising a screw and a link, a clamp on the link for connection to the pipe, a carriage, a sleeve-nut in the carriage and for adjusting the screw. an electric motor mounted on the carriage und con nected to rotate said sleeve, and means for automatically controlling the operation ot the sleeve-nut.

23. In a machine for bending pipe, the combination of a frame, means for moving the pipe, a swinging bending-member, a radius bar comprising a screw and a link, a clamp on the link Jfor connection to thc pipe, a carriage pivoted to the frame and swinging with the bar, a sleeve-nut rotatable in the carriage and for adjusting the screw, an electric motor mounted on the carriage and connected to rotate said sleeve, and means for automatically controlling the operation of the nut.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 14th day of Sept., 1923.

JAMES HALL TAYLOR. 

